Projects | Charlotte Hupfield Ceramics

Recycled Glass Bottle Garden Border

May 13, 2012 Charlotte No comments

If you look closely at the border along the lawn in this picture, you should see lots of shiny circular objects all lined up in a row…

The circles are in fact empty wine bottles that have been pushed into the ground to create a recycled decorative and quirky garden border.

This is one of my Dad’s latest ideas and I took these photos in his garden last week when all we had was rain, rain and more rain.

The bottles look great in the sunshine with the light reflecting off the glass. Although it took a while for the bottles to build up, this is a fun and easy project to brighten up your garden this summer!

Posted in: garden, outdoors, Projects

Hazel Twig Fence

August 11, 2011 Charlotte 2 Comments

I had to share my new hazel twig fence with you! I love it! It was so much fun, especially collecting the branches from the woods. My dad had made a fence in his garden and as soon as I saw it I had to make one too. The fences aren’t very practical, just ornamental and decorative, they add a really nice rustic look to your garden.

First we had to locate some hazelnut trees. In woodland areas you would probably be surprised at how many there are scattered all over. They are easy to spot – tall thin vertical branches with the odd leaves growing here and there. Make sure you take a little saw or some secateurs to cut the branches down – they are very strong!

If you can find any thicker branches these are good to use for the posts.
Pull off the leaves and cut off any jagged bits so that you are left with a pile of straight, clean wooden sticks. Begin by cutting the posts to size, taking into consideration the height you want your fence to be, and also plenty extra for the posts to be positioned in the ground. My fence was about 30cm high and I left about 15cm for the posts to go in the ground, so each post was 45cm tall.

Hammer the posts into the ground first. Depending on how hard or soft the ground is, they may be able to push in. The further down in the ground the posts are, the stronger the fence will be. The rest is easy and takes no time at all! Weave the hazel branches in and out of the posts. They are so strong that they stay in place by themselves. Once you’ve reached the top of the posts and are happy with the amount of branches, cut off any excess at the ends and use cable ties to tighten any areas that are a bit loose. I only had white cable ties but you can hardly notice them as they have been coloured in with black pen!

If you want to continue the fence at an angle, start again with more posts. Effective isn’t it?

Below are some other creative ideas I found using twigs and sticks. I will no doubt be trying all of these too!

1. Stick Centre Pieces

2. Garden Driftwood Trellis

3. Twig Frame

4. Twig Candle Decoration

And look at this!! Hazel branch walls made in the same way. Amazing!

Posted in: garden, hazel branches, hazel fence, Projects

Playing with Pebbles

July 22, 2011 Charlotte 6 Comments

During my trip to the seaside a few weeks ago, I collected a tonne of these flat pebbles from one of the sandy beaches to make something with at home. The varied shades of colour in them were gorgeous, and the more pebbles I collected, the more I couldn’t stop! I initially started by filling my pockets with a few but then had to resort to a big carrier bag. They weighed the car down quite a lot on the way home too!

I had an idea what I wanted to use the pebbles for, but had been looking for a particular type of mirror for a while. Yesterday I came across the perfect mirror (in a sale – bonus!), and spent the evening last night arranging the pebbles like a jig-saw around the edge of the mirror to create a border.

The pebbles were stuck down onto the mirror using a hot glue gun. Doesn’t it look fab!

(and another photo just to show off the beautiful pink hydrangeas in the garden…)

The mirror is going to be hung up in our downstairs bathroom. This is where Dave comes in handy

I used the rest of the pebbles to decorate the borders of some flat clipped photo frames, which will look lovely when I print off the perfect photos to go inside them. I’ll be sending one of the frames down to my friend in Plymouth with a photo of us and 2 other friends from when we were at the seaside, as a thank you for letting us stay. I hope she’ll love it!

Posted in: beach combing, pebble mirror, pebble photo frames, pebbles, Projects

How to make a Piñata

June 27, 2011 Charlotte 4 Comments

You will need:

Balloon
Newspaper
Flour & Water
Bowl
Scissors
Cardboard (i.e. cereal box)
Toilet Roll Tubes
Crepe/Tissue Paper
Strong Glue
String
Marker Pen
Coloured Paints
Sweets
Foil Tube

Mix a small amount of flour with water to form a watery glue paste. Cut strips of newspaper ready to be applied to the balloon. Blow up a balloon, and begin by dipping a newspaper strip into the paste so that it is completely covered, and smooth over the surface of the balloon using the paper-mâché technique. Continue until the balloon is completely covered, making sure each strip is overlapped slightly. Hang the balloon up to dry overnight with a piece of string. Cover the balloon in another layer the next day, placing each strip in the opposite direction to the initial layer. Allow to dry again overnight.

* Caution! * Be careful not to spill or drip any of the flour & water paste anywhere as it dries very hard as is difficult to remove! Use newspaper to cover the surfaces you are working on.

To make the head, we used two halves of a jaffa cake box and paper-mâché’d them together, sticking on some ears too.

Cut small slits around one end of the four toilet roll tubes (legs), this makes them stay in place against the balloon easier.

I was pleased that I had a use for the cupcake apron I got for my birthday!

Once the balloon has dried fully over night, position the legs evenly underneath and mark where they are with a marker pen.

I found it a lot easier to initially glue the legs into place using a hot glue gun to hold them securely. I then added more paper-mâché around the tops to smooth it out.

Next is the fun part! Pop the balloon using a pin or scissors, cut a hole big enough to fill with sweets and remove the balloon.

Fill the empty body with sweets!!….

….and also some confetti.

Once you are happy with the amount of sweets and confetti inside, glue the head onto the body.

Paint the legs – the brighter the better!

Cut some lengths of crepe or tissue paper (we used crepe paper as it’s a lot stronger than tissue), and cut some tassels along one side. Begin to attach the strips onto the body, using cello-tape to secure. We found it a lot easier for one person to hold the strips in place while the other sticks the cello-tape.

Continue to layer up the strips of paper in different colours. When you reach the top you will come to a big bald patch – cut one large oval of the next colour with tassels around the edge, and layer up different coloured ovals on top.

Add some zig-zag lines around the legs, or any other pattern you choose to jazz them up a bit! Make a tail using some thin card to form a cone shape, cover in crepe paper and decorate. Attach some tassel strips to the top of the tail.

Cover the head and ears in random cut-out pieces of crepe paper using pritt stick.

Cut tassels along the edge of the ears, stick the tail on, and add some big googly eyes.

Voila! Meet ‘Burro’…

We added a ‘Happy Birthday’ tag in Spanish around his neck, and attached some strong raffia string around his body to hang him up on the washing line.

We made the ‘whacker’ out of an old foil tube as they are quite sturdy, and decorated it with crepe paper and tassels.

Lots of fun was had by Rosanna and her friends at her birthday party on Saturday, even the adults had lots of laughs! It was a little sad to see Burro hanging broken upside down, especially when he plopped to the ground! But we were pleased with how much fun he brought to the party.

Each of the children were blind folded and took it in turns to have 5 whacks each. It took a while to break through, but the longer the better as it would be a shame to break it open on the first few whacks.

As well as being the life and soul of the party, Burro was lots of fun to make too!

Posted in: how to make a pinata, Projects

DIY Tin Lanterns

May 30, 2011 Charlotte 19 Comments

Thank you for visiting my post about DIY Tin Lanterns… You may also be interested in my individually handmade ceramic homewares, accessories and gifts in my shop – take a look!

I’m in love with my new recycled tea light can holder! It was so easy to make, and the best part is anyone can make one – you don’t need any special tools or materials.

Here’s what you do: Peel the label off an old tin can, fill with water and freeze in the freezer. Once frozen, draw a design onto the tin, and then pierce holes around the lines of your design using a nail and hammer. I had to keep taking breaks and putting my tin back in the freezer as my arm was aching from holding the hammer!

Once happy with your design, leave the ice to thaw out and wash off the pen marks. Then sit back and admire the pretty reflections on the wall when you light a tea light candle inside it! I’m going to make a few more of these once we have some more empty tins, I think they would look great displayed in a group and would also be great for summer evenings in the garden.

I found this idea on Sophie’s blog – Trinket Box, who originally found the idea from Gem Fatale’s Style Blog. Why not have a go yourself, it’s fun!

Posted in: Projects, recycled tin can, tea light holder

DIY Nature Wreaths

November 28, 2010 Charlotte 2 Comments

It’s a lovely frosty day today, the grass is still crunchy from this morning. We’ve had a little sprinkling of snow this weekend, but nothing major yet. I’m enjoying this relaxing Sunday! Earlier I made this wreath using a collection of pine cones. I got the idea from Maya’s inspiring blog. They are so simple to make – all you need is a circular cut out piece of card and a hot glue gun to stick the pine cones onto it.

When I was arranging the pine cones, somebody had to poke her nose in and get involved as usual!…

Molly loves chasing pine cones around the house! I’ve given her one to play with. It’s so funny watching her run around with it in her mouth.

I attached a hoop of ribbon to the wreath so that it could be hung up. I’ve placed it in various places around the house, it looks lovely anywhere. It will be a nice festive decoration to have out for Christmas, although I’m thinking of keeping it out all year round.

For now it’s sitting on top of the fire.

Hope you are enjoying a relaxing Sunday too!

Posted in: DIY wreath, festive decorations, natural, nature, pine cone wreath, pine cones, Projects, wreath

Up-cycled Journal

November 12, 2010 Charlotte 4 Comments

This week I’ve been busy collecting all kinds of envelopes to recycle into something new. I was inspired by Ashley’s blog post of The Creative Place earlier in the week when she shared her handmade christmas journal. I’ve been a follower of Ashley’s blog for a while now, you might remember the Love journal that Ashley inspired me to make earlier this year? I’ve used the same distressed corrugated cardboard effect here, I love how it is peeled back to show the rawness underneath. I like Ashley’s idea of a christmas journal, but I don’t think I would have something to write in it every day in December, so I decided to turn my journal into a diary that I’ll use in 2011.

It took a while to build up lots of different types of envelopes. It’s surprising how colourful and decorative some of the insides of the envelopes are, although some of them hurt my eyes. Any sorts of paper can be used to make a handmade journal but I wanted to make mine solely out of recycled materials.

You could even use specifically made scrapbooking papers and embellishments. I used a handmade fabric flower and a couple of ceramic decorations that I had made to decorate the cover.

My journal is A5, the perfect size I think. The pages look a little bare at the moment but once I start to write in it, it will get full up with photos and other bits & bobs such as receipts, tickets, etc. I stuck plain coloured bits of paper down onto some of the ‘busy’ patterned envelopes which would be difficult to read if written on. These patterned envelopes are good to use as backgrounds.

I hole punched a few envelopes to tie in with the journal, these could be filled with little trinkets or photos. I also added some clear cellophane pockets. I found some fun papers whilst flicking through old magazines too. If I find any more interesting papers etc I can untie the string and add a new page.

The best part about making this journal is that it was all free!

I really enjoyed making it, it was nice to get stuck into something different for a change. I wonder what it will get full up with during the next year…?

Posted in: handmade diary, handmade journals, old into new, Projects, recycled, recycled envelopes, recycled journal, upcycling

Growing Herbs

October 04, 2010 Charlotte 3 Comments

One of my new projects at home is growing my own herbs.

I want to grow rosemary to bake with roast potatoes, chives to give to my mum to cook in her home made quiches, thyme to season the breadcrumbs when we cook breaded chicken, and sprigs of parsley to decorative the plates when we have people over for dinner!

I found this website about growing herbs indoors which was useful.

Posted in: growing herbs indoors, Projects

DIY: Tin Can Vases

August 26, 2010 Charlotte No comments

Here’s a fun and simple project to have a play around with over the bank holiday weekend. I found this tutorial by Cori Cook Floral Design about using old scraps of paper & ribbon for decorating cans and bottles – don’t they look great? I would never have thought they were old recycled cans under those bright and cheerful paper designs. I’m going to start collecting some cans and make a bundle of these to decorate a window sill in the new house. They will look great with different types of flowers in them.

Posted in: Projects, tin can vases

Wind Chime Mobiles

July 22, 2010 Charlotte 10 Comments

I’ve been working on a new project this week, and have really enjoyed working outside of my comfort zone.

I’ve had quite a few small bits and pieces of decorative ceramics lying around for a while, that I’ve either kept because I wasn’t sure what to do with them, or they are broken bits from a piece that I didn’t want to throw away – I can always find a use for everything!

After a trip to Hobby Craft last weekend I bought some copper wire and decided to use some of the ceramic ‘scraps’ and some of my handmade buttons to incorporate into a hanging mobile or wind chime.

I also used strips of coloured glass and shells. The overall look of the outcome is very natural, just what I was hoping for.

I’m really pleased with the results and will be making a few more with different sized pieces of wood that I collected from the country park. Now that I know the idea works well, I’ll be a bit more experimental with my next designs.

It was quite difficult to photograph it, to capture the full beauty of the piece. I had fun photographing the shadows too!

The hanging charms make a delightful ‘clinking’ sound when blown in the breeze.

This hanging wind chime mobile is available to purchase from my online shops. You can shop via my direct store, Folksy, Etsy or Swanky Maison.

I also made another mobile using thick green garden wire (below). It doesn’t create the same delicate and elegant look, so I’ve decided to stick with using copper wire. My mum however loves the outcome of this piece and has decided she wants to keep it for herself!

What are your thoughts? Do you prefer the copper wire or green garden wire look?

Posted in: decorative hanging art, hanging mobile, My Work, Projects, wind chimes

Sketchbook Peeks Part 3

April 08, 2010 Charlotte 4 Comments

Continued from Part 2:

8. What is your favourite medium to work with?

I use all kinds of different medium as I love layering and overlapping drawings in different materials to create abstract surface designs. My favourite medium would be oil pastels; I like the smooth feel when in contact with the page.

9. Where is your ideal sketching location?

On a beach next to lots of colourful and textural rocks and caves, or in some woods surrounded by trees and different types of bark.

10. How have your sketchbooks evolved over the years?

Each one is like it has evolved from the last. I would say that my drawings have become a lot more loose and free, because I am more relaxed.

11. If you had to pick one favourite sketchbook page, which would it be and why?

This raised surface design below is my favourite sketchbook page – it was a mixed-media design I created from an initial drawing of a close up tree trunk.

I later developed this design into a large raised printing block which I now use to roll some of the clay onto before constructing into forms. So this initial rough design is the key to how I produce a lot of my work today!

Can you see where the design has been impressed into the ceramic surface above?

These are 2 large organic collograph prints I produced using the same printing block that I roll into the clay.

Hope you found my sketchbook interview interesting – Here are Part 1 & Part 2 of the interview if you missed them.

Posted in: design ideas, drawings, how I work, Inspiration, layering, mixed media, Projects, Sketchbooks

Sketchbook Peeks Part 2

March 29, 2010 Charlotte 3 Comments

Continued from Sketchbook Peeks Part 1:

5. How do you feel with the prospect of starting a new sketchbook with lots of lovely blank pages?

It does excite me starting a new sketchbook, because there is that thrill of what exciting new designs and ideas are going to fill the pages. But it can also feel quite daunting. I prefer working in a sketchbook that has already been started. If a sketchbook is blank I sometimes feel stuck with what to fill it with, so I like there to be something already there to work with, even if it is a watercolour wash as a background.

6. When and where do you get your sketchbook inspiration?

If I’m ever feeling stuck for inspiration I usually have a flick through a book I own by Carolyn Genders called ‘Sources of Inspiration.‘ It guarantees to get some inspiration flowing every time!

7. How would you describe your sketchbook process?

I don’t really have an exact way of doing things; in fact I would say the process of my sketchbooks is very random. Sometimes I will open a sketchbook at a page right in the middle and start there, rather than following on from the last page. Some days I spend time painting coloured backgrounds on different pages ready to be drawn on, and others I will spend sticking things in. The great thing about drawing in a sketchbook is that there is no right or wrong way about doing things.

I will often find an image or a close up detailed texture in a magazine that I like, so I’ll stick it in a sketchbook. When I often look back through my sketchbooks to refresh my inspiration, I come across lots of these stuck in images and it is then that I notice something different about the image, and reuse it in my designs in a different way than before.

I love using different materials to layer up on top of one another to create a collage. My sketchbooks are full of mixed-media – I enjoy drawing with inks on top of torn brown paper, using wax resists, layering acetate images over drawings, tearing or cutting up prints and then piecing them back together in a different way, sticking down found objects such as interesting stones, shells or pieces of bark, using my own inspirational photographs, and simply just ‘making marks’ on the page – it is this particular aspect that my ceramics connects to.